Brexit

Should your business require any advice, information or update on the EU exit (Brexit) process, the following links may be of help. The advice provides details in respect of preparations in the eventuality of a ‘no deal’ as well as guidance in relation to EU nationals wishing to stay post Brexit. Further detailed information is also provided in respect of specific industry sectors as to the preparations that should be considered to mitigate any potential disruption.

Enterprise M3’s Brexit toolkit has been updated regularly to help businesses in the region plan for the impact of the UK leaving the EU. The toolkit has been developed in partnership with the Enterprise M3 Growth Hub and other business support organisations, including Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, County Councils in Surrey and Hampshire, and Business South.

Worried by how Brexit could impact your business?
Get your business Brexit-ready with FREE advice from our panel of experts at our Business Clinic April 5th in Woking.
We’ll be supporting your small business with scenario and risk assessments to guide you through the challenges which Brexit presents.

March has been a busy time for events at the Growth Hub, with a fantastic International Women’s Day celebrations at Silicon Drinkabout, and a series of Brexit events across the whole M3 corridor. Brexit events were produced in partnership with the Enterprise M3 LEP, Hampshire County Council, Surrey County Council, Hampshire Chambers of Commerce, Surrey Chambers of Commerce, FSB & Business South, and held across the M3 corridor. The events have been very successful and offered a platform for businesses to ask questions specific to their own business to representatives from Government departments. A great variety of information can also be found on our Brexit toolkit detailed below.

The Enterprise M3 LEP has this week launched their new South2East Local Energy Strategy in conjunction with neighbouring LEPs focused on driving clean growth in the region, more news about the launch below. Sustainability continues to be a hot topic with news below about the new Heathrow Centre for Excellence for Sustainability.

Place West London

Place West London’s combination of a high-level conference programme and business networking opportunities focussed on West London is unique. It’s the place for anyone involved in the sub-region to get together, share ideas, discuss the future, and make new contacts.

Attendees are drawn from:
The Public Sector – local authorities send senior Officers and Members active and interested in planning, economic development, regeneration, housing, transport, environment and more.

As Cabinet ministers gather today to discuss the government’s negotiating stance ahead of critical talks on the UK’s future relationship with the European Union, Francis Martin, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Adam Marshall, the BCC’s Director General, write an open letter to Prime Minister Theresa May, making an urgent appeal for clarity on the government’s objectives.

In the letter, the BCC’s leaders urge the government to make key choices and deliver a clear statement of intent – so that businesses of all sizes and sectors can make decisions for the future.

This is a pivotal time for UK businesses. As negotiations on the UK’s departure from the EU continue, we have a narrow window of opportunity to understand your company’s priorities – and to feed the latest views from Chamber business communities into the highest levels of government as the UK’s negotiating stance is set.

Two minutes of your time gives your Chamber – and the British Chambers of Commerce team at Westminster – the real-world business input we need in order to stand up for your interests.
I hope you’ll add your voice – we will do everything possible to ensure it is heard.
Dr Adam Marshall, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce.

The FSB Small Business Index has fallen more than three points to record only the second negative reading in five years, and reach its lowest level since the months immediately following the referendum on leaving the EU in 2016.

The index score stood at -2.5 in the fourth quarter of 2017, down from +1.1 in the third quarter and significantly down from the highwater mark of +20.0 that was achieved in the first quarter of the year.

Despite the continued decline, the index has yet to match the dip to -2.9 felt in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, and small business confidence in the capital improved markedly after falling to a near six-year-low the quarter before.

Small businesses in the north of England and Scotland are particularly pessimistic.
The share of businesses expecting to downsize, close or hand on the business over the coming year stood at 14.6 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 9.4 per cent a year ago and the largest share since data collection began in 2012.